Telling a responsible person to 'just disconnect' ignores the anxiety that something important might actually happen. A better boundary defines when you will look, what qualifies as urgent and what waits.
Build a narrow window
- Choose one final check time instead of checking continuously.
- Turn off badges and nonessential notifications.
- Tell key people how to reach you for a true emergency.
- Write tomorrow's first response before closing the inbox.
Separate availability from vigilance
You can be reachable without monitoring every message. If the role expects constant response, clarify that expectation directly rather than silently absorbing it.
The first nights may feel uncomfortable. That feeling is not evidence that the boundary is irresponsible. It may simply be unfamiliar.